韩国诗话中的唐诗優劣论 = Comparison of Merits and Demerits of Tang Poetry in Korean Poetics

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The topic of “the merits and demerits of Tang poetry” has been a subject of much discussion in classical Chinese poetry criticism since the rise of Song poetry. This enthusiasm for debate has also persisted in Korean poetic discourse. Not only do they discuss the quality of poems and poets, but they also express distinct views on monumental works that differ from those of Chinese poets.
In terms of the merits and demerits of Tang and Song poetry, evaluations have fluctuated along with the rise and decline of poetic trends. After the reign of King Seonjo in Korea, people developed a more rational and flexible perspective on Tang and Song poetry. Especially under the influence of poetic theories from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, they transcended the constraints of their respective eras. This shift led to an advocacy for natural spontaneity and genuine poetry, ultimately paving the way for a self-sufficient poetic tradition.
In terms of the merits and demerits of Tang and ancient Korea poetry, some people thought that some works were comparable to Tang poets or even exceed Tang poets’ works, and the other people believed that Korean poets were inferior to Tang poets in terms of specific poems, poets and subjects. The former was full of national pride, while the latter had a distinct sense of literary introspection. No matter what kind of mentality, we can see the active participation of Korean poetics in Tang Poetry. Together with other neighboring countries, they formed an important part of East Asian Tang poetics.